Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Arlington Restaurant

4 Main Street, HiltonVisited April 5, 2010Written by Tyler

The Arlington has been a staple of Hilton’s Main Street for over a century, since opening in 1897. The Arlington Hotel closed in 1966, giving way to a restaurant and full bar in a new building nearby (the hotel was demolished shortly thereafter).

Ownership, which some of my family was a part of at one point, has changed hands a few times before becoming a restaurant. The Edelman family has owned the restaurant for the majority of its run – and still operates the adjoining liquor store – but sold ownership of the restaurant a few years ago.

My family has raved about the Friday Fish Fry at The Arlington for years. My grandpa still goes for lunch most days, and more recently my grandma has been bringing family and friends to the Tuesday Gourmet Pasta Bar.

I went to lunch with my grandma at The Arlington the day after Easter. It wasn’t very crowded, but it was still a good atmosphere, as antiques celebrating Hilton’s heritage of apple farms adorned the wall.

The menu seems to have something for just about everyone, but we each decided on sandwiches this day. My grandma enjoyed her Chicken Caesar Sandwich, topped with Caesar salad and served between garlic toast.

As for myself, I opted for the Turkey Ham Club. This was one large sandwich, but I eventually settled on a ‘divide and conquer’ attack plan. All the typical components of a club sandwich mixed well on this sandwich. The hot and cold ingredients complemented each other nicely, but the crisp bacon really made the sandwich stand out.

The Arlington is probably the closest there is thing to fine dining in Hilton, but it still has a rather casual atmosphere.

The Arlington’s weekly specials also include Monday Steak Night and Saturday Prime Rib, in addition to a diverse menu which includes a decent-sized selection of fried appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and pastas.There are a few premium entrees like New York Strip, Filet Mignon and Chicken Parmesan, among others. Also featured are a few barbecue options, as well as “Home Style Favorites” like chicken pot pie and meat loaf.

The Arlington, which is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, has good food and a fancy yet casual and friendly small-town atmosphere that make it a good place to stop for a night out when in Hilton.

Ratings:Service/Atmosphere: Efficient and friendly service added to the quaint, small-town atmosphere.Food: No complaints and a good selection.Value: Not quite cheap enough to be casual, but not expensive enough to be considered fine dining. You get your money’s worth.Overall: Great small-town atmosphere and good food; easy to see why my family has enjoyed it for years. I’ve heard a lot of praise, especially about the weekly specials. Grade: B-